FP7

FP7
Name	Seventh Framework Programme
Native name	Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development
Established	2007
Ended	2013
Budget	€50.5 billion
Jurisdiction	European Commission

FP7

The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development was the European Union's principal research funding programme between 2007 and 2013. It supported collaborative projects across European Commission, European Parliament, European Research Council, European Investment Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and numerous national research agencies. Designed to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and scientific excellence, the programme involved universities, industry, and research centres from across France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, and other states.

Overview

FP7 was launched to succeed earlier initiatives such as the Fifth Framework Programme and Sixth Framework Programme and to address challenges highlighted by policy documents from the Lisbon Strategy and the Barcelona European Council. It aimed to boost research capacity among actors including Max Planck Society, CNRS, Fraunhofer Society, University of Oxford, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The programme covered thematic areas reflected in EU strategies shaped by the European Council and implemented through calls managed by the European Commission's Directorate-Generals.

Objectives and Priorities

FP7 pursued goals aligned with strategic agendas set by the European Council and the European Commission. Priorities included themes prominent in the work of entities such as World Health Organization and International Energy Agency: health research engaged institutions like Karolinska Institutet and Institut Pasteur; information and communication technologies attracted partners such as Nokia and Siemens; nanosciences involved laboratories like CERN and industrial actors including BASF. Other priorities mirrored interests of European Space Agency and Eurostat.

Structure and Funding Instruments

FP7 comprised specific programmes including Cooperation, Ideas, People, and Capacities, interacting with instruments like grants and support actions used by bodies such as the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. Large-scale collaborative grants connected universities like University of Cambridge and companies like Airbus through project types familiar to agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron. Funding mechanisms were administered by the European Commission and audited by entities such as the European Court of Auditors.

Participating Countries and Eligibility

Participation extended beyond European Union member states to associated countries including Norway, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, and candidate countries like Croatia. Eligibility criteria referenced rules enforced by the European Commission and negotiated with organizations such as the European Free Trade Association and the Council of the European Union. Institutions including Polish Academy of Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, and Hungarian Academy of Sciences regularly took part, while multinational corporations such as Philips and IBM joined consortia.

Major Projects and Results

FP7 funded high-profile projects building on expertise from centres like European Molecular Biology Laboratory and infrastructures such as ITER-related research. Notable initiatives addressed topics relevant to World Health Organization priorities, collaborated with research teams from Karolinska Institutet, University College London, and industrial partners like GlaxoSmithKline. Results included publications in outlets connected to Nature (journal), patents involving firms such as Siemens, and the development of research infrastructures akin to those of European XFEL and ESFRI projects.

Evaluation and Impact

Evaluations were conducted by panels drawing on methodologies used by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and assessments referenced by the European Court of Auditors. Impact analyses examined contributions to innovation ecosystems represented by European Institute of Innovation and Technology and measured scientific output linked to institutions such as the Max Planck Society and Institut Pasteur. Findings influenced policy debates in venues like the European Council and reports prepared for the European Parliament.

Legacy and Succession (Horizon 2020)

FP7's structures and lessons informed the design of the subsequent Horizon 2020 programme and the evolution of instruments overseen by the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council. Many consortia transitioned to calls managed under frameworks influenced by policy work from the European Commission and strategic priorities set by the European Council, while research infrastructures established during FP7 continued to engage institutions such as CERN and European Space Agency.

Category:European Union research programmes Category:Science funding